Hi all, my SS disability (I am in USA) was approved in 18 months. I was denied twice in writing, but when I went before the judge (with only my father) the judge spent five minutes reviewing my file and told me I was approved. What worked? It all lies in how the treating physician has completed your forms. SS does not just want to see "I hurt all the time and I can't do anything". They want, need, to see how your pain will affect your ability to work. Ex: "patient can only work for 30 min., with an hour break to rest or lie down due to............." "patient can lift no more than 10 lbs" . or "in a given month patient will miss 30 (or whatever) hours of work due to disability." It lies in your doctor; mine was also familiar with filling out work comp forms so he new the "ropes". I believe this was what helped me the most. If you don't have a doctor, I would suggest calling a work comp attorneys office and ask the staff who they would reccomend as a physician. (you may or may not be successful in this.) Or, call a physiatrist's office (muscle doctor not shrink!) and see if they are patient advocates. If anyone has any other questions I can try to help. Oh, by the way my diagnosis was myofacial pain syndrome at the time of hearing, I didn't have a fibro diagnosis yet. It was basically muscular pain stuff (neck and back areas). But all my doctors knew how to write the reports the proper way, how it relates to working. God bless, Amy

My specailist for fibro filled out the 7 or 9 page report for SSD, he stated all my limitations in detail inclufing mins I can sit, stand, weight I cam lift (5lbs) no repeative motions and so on. My Orthopedic doctor also filed a narriative repot stating that in his opinion I was diabled at the time of my first visit to him which was way back in 2004 (before I filed) he also stated with FMS now dx'ed that he is positive that my disibility would last more then another year. I think if you go to the SSA website you will find a copy of the papers the SSA sends to your doctors. These doctors were specailists not just a GP but I was still denied. My GP also sent in her report also.

From everything I have been reading you must have two diagnosises to qualify for disablity. The diagnosis of Fibromyalgai alone will be rejected! I think that its the other diagnosis ( osteoarthritis, myofacial syndrome, RA, disc disease of some type, etc...) that really gets you the approval!!!

Amy, I am in the middle of an L&I claim for sensitivities to the dust at my work, I.E. Allergic like symptoms. The reaction to the dust was non existant the previous 8 years previous. in 2004 I worked over 300 hrs. overtime doing repetitive lifting , the pain got so bad I was seen by neurologist, MRI studies months of pain pills etc. finally diagnosed with MFS jan 05. Then 8 months later, started having major reactions to the dust, crippling spasms night sweats etc. Drs. thought I was allergic to the dust took me off of work, then new symptoms started even at home I now know as Fms that diagnoses in feb.06. ok here's the rub.
My dr. in charge of the L&I claim for the allergies can't or won't make the connection between the MFP & FMS and the reactions and new sensitivity to these smells. And when I specifically asked him to file claim for the MFPS he said that L&I would not accept that as a diagnoses.. What are your thoughts on this?? or anybody else??